The Lost Reaper

Chapter Fifteen

"I'm not sure about that," iling ko habang nasa daan ang aking mga mata.

"Why not?"

"The last time I went face to face with your people, they are pointing their guns at me. Besides, I still don't trust you."

"Kung ganun, alam mo ba kung saan tayo pwedeng magtago?"

I bit my lower lip, trying to come up with a plan. I am against a mafia. Alam ko kung ano yung kaya nilang gawin. They can hack every CCTV cameras that could help them to track us down. Kahit saang sulok pa ng Pilipinas kami magtatago matutunton pa rin nila kami.

"Wala kang maisip," Lucca chuckled. "You knew that escaping and hiding from them is impossible to do."

"May naisip ka bang iba pang paraan?"

"Fortunately, I have."

"Ano?"

"Come home with me."

Nilingon ko siya at tinaasan ng kilay. I chuckled in disbelief. Nababaliw na ba siya?

"Ikaw na ang nagsabi na imposibleng magtago kapag Ahedres yung kalaban. What makes it different from hiding somewhere else?"

"Nakita mo naman siguro kung paano natakot si Kenjie noon diba? You saw how he shivered in fear when he found out that my people were chasing after you."

Tama siya. Takot na takot si Kenjie noon at iyon ang unang pagkakataon na nakita ko siyang nanginginig sa takot. He was going crazy.

"Anong alam mo?"

"I know everything, Heather. Nothing escapes my senses. Mas marami pa nga siguro akong alam sa iyo."

I scoffed.

"Of course you do. Alam nating pareho na nagka-amnesia ako."

Lucca does looks like he knows a lot. Nalaman nga niya na takot si Kenjie sa kanila na ako lang naman at si Freya yung kasama niya noon. He looks like he knows Kenjie, but the latter doesn't.

"Wala ka nang ibang choice. It's either we get caught and both die, or be safe under the protection of my people."

"Why should I trust you?"

"Because I may be your only hope."

I exhaled. Wala na nga akong ibang choice. If we follow my way, mahahanap nila kami. But if I listen to him, may posibilidad na hindi nga nila kami mahahanap.

"Okay."

Considering all the possibilities, I think this would be the best option. Hindi ko kilala yung mga tao ni Lucca but he assured me that I will be safe there.

"They're gonna be ecstatic to see you," ngisi niya.

"Bakit?"

"Because I believe you are Brion. The lost reaper that we've been looking for."

Napahinto ako. If I am really the person who he said I am, then malalaman ko na ang lahat kapag sumama ako sa kanya. I can have all the answers of my questions. Hindi man nasagot ni Lucca lahat ng katanungan ko pero ngayon makikita ko na.

A few minutes later, we arrived at the port. Lucca made me stop the car at agad siyang lumabas. Dali-dali kong kinuha yung baril ko at sinundan siya palabas.

"Teka lang!" I pointed the gun at him so he raised both of his hands on the air. "You are still my prisoner, Lucca."

Bumaba ang magkabila niyang balikat at lumapit sa akin. "Fine. Put your gun down."

"Why?"

"Everyone's watching. Hindi sila basta-bastang mga ordinaryong tao lang. Some of them are reaper undercover."

I look around and saw a few people looking at our direction. Some of them were putting their hands inside their jacket na para bang bubunot ng baril kapag may mangyari. Napapikit nalang ako at itinago yung dala kong baril.

"Just don't leave my side," bulong ko na ikinatango niya.

"Come on. Follow me," he said.

Unang naglakad si Lucca at sumunod lang ako sa kanya. Sumampa na kami sa isang yate at sobra akong namangha sa laki nito.

"Is this yours?"

Umiling siya. "Hindi sa akin ito. Ginagamit namin ito kapag gusto naming pumunta sa the Grounds."

"Grounds?"

I heard of the Grounds before. Kay Lucca ko mismo ito narinig. Ito yung lugar kung saan ang mga reapers na pinanguluhan ng isang August. Am I really gonna be stepping on that island?

Pumasok na kaming dalawa sa cabin. Lumapit si Lucca sa isang table kung saan nakalagay yung telepono. Bago pa man niya ito mahawakan ay itinutok ko yung baril ko sa kanya.

"Again with the gun?" naasar niyang tanong.

"Don't do anything stupid."

"Why would I do that? Wala akong dalang armas para ikapahamak mo."

"Sino ang tatawagan mo?"

Tumirik ang kanyang mga mata.

"The Grounds. I'm gonna call them for them to know that we are coming."

"Do you really have to call them?"

"Of course! It is an exclusive island and no one must know about it, except for us. If we don't call them then they would have to sink the yatch. It is the protocol. Para masiguradong walang kahit sino ang makakapasok doon."

Nagsitindigan ang aking mga balahibo sa narinig. They have high security. No wonder why Kenjie is afraid of them. Talagang katatakutan naman talaga sila. Pero hindi ko pa rin alam kung ano yung rason kung bakit takot na takot siya sa kanila. What happened in the past?

Ibinaba ko ang baril at umupo sa sofa. I feel so tired hanggang sa bumigay na nga ang mga binti ko. Lucca returned back to the telephone and called whoever he's talking to.

"Lucca Stein, heading to the Grounds. I brought a visitor."

Lucca Stein. So yun pala yung apilyedo niya. Stein. It is somehow familiar. Parang narinig ko na siya sa loob ng mafia. I don't want to think further about that. Maraming Stein sa mundo. It may be just a coincidence.

"Are you hungry?" tanong niya sa akin nang makitang nakaupo ako sa sofa.

"I'm not sure," sagot ko at pinaramdaman yung sarili.

"When was the last time you ate?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Hindi ko din alam."

"Brion naman!" naiinis niyang sigaw. "Kumain ka naman o. Kaya pala nangangayat ka na."

I was stunned by his sudden reaction. Tinawag niya akong Brion na Heather naman yung tawag niya sa akin kanina. He rushed to the small kitchen and opened the fridge.

"Hindi mo dapat pabayaan yung sarili mo. You make me worried!"

Kumuha siya ng dalawang itlog at gatas. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin na abala sa pagluluto ng makakain. I can't help to feel warm inside. Unang pagkakataon ko pang naramdaman na may nag-aalaga sa akin. I was always the one who took care of things, not being taken care of. Si Lucca lang ang nagpaparamdam sa akin nito.

It felt home.